As London Underground workers vote to go on strike in support of a colleague who failed two alcohol breath tests, Matthew Steeples argues that it is time to curtail the rights of essential service workers
There’s plainly hope for drunk drivers given that London Underground workers have voted to go on strike over the sacking of a colleague for failing two alcohol breath tests. That these shameful individuals are able to disrupt services across our capital is ridiculous but that they do so in the name of a beverage loving sort is simply scandalous.
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A crowing creep
Bob Crow’s stranglehold on London should cease This week’s strike action by London Underground staff is illustrative of the arrogance of union barons and reflective of their having too much power rather than being in the interests of the public and even their own members.
The appeal of Assange
As Julian Assange is granted the right to appeal against an arrest warrant for an alleged rape, Matthew Steeples examines the high profile individuals who have visited him during his time at the Embassy of Ecuador in London
Trying to make excuses for the unnamed driver, John Leach, a Rail, Maritime and Transport Union organiser, commented:
“The current system is unfair because it doesn’t offer safeguards to those with disabilities or who are on certain diets”.
Nigel Holness, the operations director on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, responded by stating:
“You wouldn’t let someone who had been drinking alcohol drive your family in a car, and we don’t let people who have been drinking alcohol drive people’s families in Tube trains”.
“As we have made clear, strike threats will not alter our commitment to safety, nor will they make us consider reinstating a driver who failed two alcohol breath tests”.
Mr Holness is right. This driver should have been sacked and now it is time to reform union law. Transport workers and other providers of essential services should not be allowed to hold this country to ransom any longer.
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Readers have their say
5 comments
It is shocking and outrageous that a strike can go ahead on those grounds, no doubt stirred up by some union bosses and likely not by other drivers who are pushed to strike.
An utterly absurd stance by the RMT and wholly unjustified. The man should not only be sacked but probably prosecuted as would be an airline pilot. No excuses, no re-instatement.
Wish more members of the media will write like you. Fully agree.
Totally agree – one of the reasons why we have a corrupt police force is because of the police union. Ditto a mediocre and incompetent social services and teaching systems. I don’t think there should be any public sector unions at all.
If he was an airline pilot he’d be headed to prison!